Flour-bolting machine.



No. 633,6!3. Patented Sept. 26, I899. H. G. ROBINSON.

FLOUR BDLTINE MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 1, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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N0. 633,6I3. Patented Sept. 26, 1899. H. 0. ROBINSON.

FLOUR BOLTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 1, 1898.1 (No llodol.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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HARRY o. ROBINSON, or

FLOUR-BOLTI MUNCY, PENNSYLVANIA.

NG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,613, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed August 1, 1898.

To (all whom it Duty concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY O. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muncy, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flour-Bolting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to machines for bolting mill products, such as flour, but more particularly to that class of such Inachines known as shaking-bolts, wherein the mill products are fed into a box containing a system of screens and the box is caused to gyrate so as to move the material promiscuously over the screening-surfaces, and there by effect a thorough separation of the different grades. A well-known mode of producing gyrations of the box is to engage a vertical shaft eccentrically therewith and apply power to rotate the shaft; but of course the box must be supported otherwise than by the shaft, and, in fact, itis desirable to relieve the shaft entirely of the weight of the box and contents, its office being merely to move the box about in a horizontal plane. Many con-' trivances have been tried for supporting the box, the most common consisting in hangers suspended from an overhead support and coupled with the box at four equidistant points with suitable provisions, such as flexi- 5 bility in the hangers or universal joints, for

ficulties have in a measure been overcome by supporting the box from standards rising from the floor, the hangers being suspended from .inwardlyoverhanging ends of such standards and coupled .with pendent brackets on the box, and the standards have in Serial No. 687,440. (No model) some instances been erected on the base of the casting which supports the driving mechanism. While an arrangement such as last above mentioned is perhaps well calculated to overcome the objections hereinbefore mentioned as incident to the overhead system, yet other difficulties arise which make the arrangement of side standards impracticable viz., the immense vibrating strains put upon the standards, which they are incapable of long withstanding unless made so large as to be objectionably cumbersome. Constructions are also shown wherein a connected framework rises above the screen-box, which is suspended from the top of such framework and the latter either erected on the floor of the mill or on a base which rests on such floor. It invariably results, however, that wherever the points of suspension in the framework occupy a plane appreciably above a horizontal plane, cutting the effective point of engagement between the driving mechanism and the screen-box, vibration of the supportingframework ensues in greater or less degree according to the height of the point of suspension in the frame, and such vibration is seriously objectionable and has heretofore presented a seemingly insurmountable obstacle-to perfection in a bolting-machine.

I propose to entirely overcome all the difficulties experienced with such arrangements as above mentioned, while at the same time simplifying the construction of shaking-bolts and producing a self-contained structure of great strength and durability.

My invention therefore resides in a novel arrangement for supporting the screen-box whereby all overhead devices are dispensed with. No side standards are employed, and the points of suspension in the framework are embraced in substantially the same horizontal plane as the point of engagement between the driving mechanism and the screenbox, strains on the supporting-framework being so balanced as to nullify vibration in the same. I g

The drawings which accompany and form part of this specification illustrate a preferred form of apparatus embodying the present invention, and of said drawings- Figure 1 represents the machine in perspective. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the box omitted, but the bottom plate thereof shown for the most part, portions, however, being broken awayand indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional elevation of part for the machine.

In the drawings the reference-letter a designates a supporting-framework, of cast-iron, made up of sides and upper and lower crosspieces all securely bolted together, giving a general cubical outline with broadening base bolted to the floor of the mill. A noticeable feature of this framework is the outwardlyoverhanging upper corner portions a, which are considerably broadened and vertically apertured to receive bushings b, tightly fitted in them and made with hemispherical sockets or cups b in their upper sides and flaring bores 19 below said cups.

The box 0 is of the usual rectangular form and contains a suitable system of screens and has appropriate feeding and discharging appurtenances, and this box maintains a horizontal position a short distance above the supporting-framework. On the bottom of the box there is fastened a metal plate comprising a central circular part d, four radiating arms d, and corner-pieces d connected by side bars (F. To the corner-pieces d are fastened the bases of pendent brackets e, which are formed with inturned lower end portions e broadened into circular form at the extremities and vertically apertured' to receive bushings e of the same form as those in the overhanging portions a of the framework, but invert-ed, so that the hemispherical sockets or cups e are on the under sides and the flaring bores e open out of the upper sides.

Hangers in the form of metal rods f extend between the overhanging portions of the framework and the inturned lower ends of the brackets, and the upper ends of said rods are formed with heads f of substantially hemispherical form, as best shown in Fig. 3, said heads seating in the cups Z). The rods are screw-threaded for a distance at the lower ends to receive nuts with hemispherical portions f seating in the cups c and squared portions f by which they may be turned to adjust them on the rods. Lock-nuts f are applied to the latter and screwed against said nuts f-f to hold the latter at the proper adjustment.

t will now be seen that the box is supported in such a manner as to permit its free gyration while maintaining its horizontality and that this is accomplished without the use of overhead supports or side standards, the supportingframework being wholly underneath the screen-box, so that the latter can gyrate over the top of said framework.

Gyration of the box is effected by means of a vertical shaft g, stepped in a bearing supported by the lower cross-piece of the framework and journaled in a bearing supported by the upper cross-piece of the framework,said shaft carrying a large balance-wheel g, having an eccentric boss which receives a pin it, fastened in a plate h, bolted to the central portion of the bottom plate of the box. This driving mechanism is best illustrated in Fig. 3, and here certain details of construction are shown going to mechanical perfection, but not necessary to describe, as they may be considered workshop expedients.

It may be observed that the upper crosspiece of the framework is sufliciently below the top line of the frame sides as to permit the balance-wheel3 secured on the upper end of the shaft, to occupy a position within the framework, so that the box can be.brought down in close proximity to the latter, lowering its center of gravity to obvious advantage and securing added compactness of the structure. Moreover, the point of engagement between the screen-box and the gyrating mechanism is brought into a horizontal plane embracing the points of suspension in the framework.

It will be seen that an apparatus such as shown in the drawings and herein specifically described will have all the advantages claimed for the present invention. That vibration in the framework is practically nullified will be apparent, for lateral strain imposed on the same through the driving-shaft when moving the box in one direction is counteracted by corresponding lateral strain in the opposite direction exerted through the hanger-rods. These opposed lateral strains being exerted in substantially the same horizontal plane by reason of the relative locations of the points of suspension in the frame and the point of engagement between the driving mechanism and the screen-box, as hereinbefore pointed out, it results that tendency which would otherwise exist to rock the framework is nullilied.

Of course the construction here shown is susceptible of modification in many particulars. For example, the hanger-rods might be supplanted by flexible hangers. Therefore in the claims which follow I do not confine myself to the precise form of means illustrated.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a screen-box carrying pendent brackets, a supporting-framework beneath said screen-box and having overhanging corner portions, suspension-hangers connecting the latter with the brackets respectively with provisions for universal lateral movement of the screen-box, and a vertical driving-shaft journaled in the framework and eccentrically engaged with the screen-box, the point of such engagement lying in substantially the same plane as the points of suspension at the frame-corners, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a screen-box carrying depending brackets with inwardly-turned lower end portions; a supporting-frame beneath said screen-box comprising connected side eccentrically engaged with the screen-box so pieces with ontwardly-oi erhanging portions as to impart a gyratory movement thereto,

at the upper corners, and interior upper and the point of such engagement of the shaft 15 lower cross-bars uniting opposite sides of the with the screen-box lying in substantially the 5 frame and having journal-bearings at their same plane as the points of suspension at the middles in vertical alinement; hangers conframe-corners.

necting the inwardly-turned lower end por- In testimony whereof I affix my signature tions of the screen-box brackets with the in presence of two witnesses.

overhanging frame-corners respectively with HARRY G. ROBINSON.

1o provisions for universal lateral movement of lVitnesses:

the screen-box, and a driving-shaft journaled JOHN TALDRON, in the hearings of the frame cross-bars and J. RUSSELL SMITH. 

